Just 90 seconds had elapsed when O'Brien dispossessed Donegal goalkeeper Daniel Mullarkey to slot home from close range.

Peter Cassidy fired over a couple of gems, and Gerard Bradley also scored twice, but Donegal showed their battling qualities as Ryan McHugh and Conor Harkin kept the deficit to 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval.

Bradley added another couple to his tally and sent O'Brien through for his second goal, finished clinically to the top corner in the 39th minute.

Donegal pulled back a goal from a penalty through skipper Ryan McHugh after substitute Sean Fitzgerald was fouled but their challenge fell short.

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